Anyone swapped a TVR for an F type?

[notax]

Having owned 5 TVRs I’m considering either buying a sixth, or possibly an F Type V8S convertible. I want something that is fun, noisy, doesn’t take itself too seriously, is reliable and happy to drift - nothing high speed and heroic, just enjoying empty roundabouts and leaving junctions sideways etc

Has anyone switched to one from a TVR? Interested to know whether it floated your boat, if you have similar driving tastes to me... I replaced my last TVR with a Boxster S, which is lovely, but not playful enough for me

[Simpo Two]

I'd have thought a Marcos or Cobra is more in the barbed-wire shirt category than a relatively-high-production 'commercial' model.

Haven't driven an F-Type but I doubt - apologies to fans - it has much of the character you like. Take a test drive and see.

[notax]

Thanks, I would really like something more usable and reliable than a Cobra or Marcos. It’s going to be an occasional, everyday car if that makes sense, a usable sports car that I can take to client meetings and hoon about in the snow when the McLaren tends to stay in the garage. I did test drive the V8S when new , as an actual everyday car but thought it a bit much and went for a Vantage coupe and Chimaera combo instead. Now the V8S (I would only want RWD) is too old to be at a main dealer and I doubt many smaller garages would be happy me testing its drifting ability on a test drive...

Hopefully someone has done experience of both TVR and V8S :thumbsup:

[Pursyluv]

It could have been me starting this thread!

Just sold the Tam after 11 years of TVR ownership, like you I’m looking at an F Type (V8S or maybe an R) however I do keep looking at the Exige 350, which apart from needing an aftermarket exhaust, is pretty similar to the Tam

[FtypeRmeister]

Hi yes I changed a Chimera for first a v6 F type and then a v8r.
It is a thumbs up 😀
Doing it again I would go straight to the v8r. Can get quite sideways in a straight line on a damp country road and fast enough to entertain on circuit.
Enjoy!

[notax]

Interesting! I’d like a RWD V8S for added slidiness but they were only made for a couple of years. Much more choice with R (AWD). Can I ask how reliable you found your Tamora, any comments on ownership much appreciated. Would you think it would fit my preferences outlined in my first post above? The one I owned a few years ago had been modified and suffered more niggles than I would have the patience and time for now...

[Pursyluv]

notax said:

Interesting! I’d like a RWD V8S for added slidiness but they were only made for a couple of years. Much more choice with R (AWD). Can I ask how reliable you found your Tamora, any comments on ownership much appreciated. Would you think it would fit my preferences outlined in my first post above? The one I owned a few years ago had been modified and suffered more niggles than I would have the patience and time for now...

Kept the Tam for 9.5 years and absolutely loved it, really underrated little car, fast enough, great sound and a damn sight easier to drive hard than the Cerbera 4.5 I had before. Let me down once, the clutch failed as I was on the way to the garage to have a new clutch fitted
I’m completely biased towards the Tam so I’m not the best person to ask, if I don’t like it’s replacement I’ll be back in one, or maybe T350T, I’ve really only sold it because the wife was frightened of it and gave it away to be honest

Gratuitous photo:-

[notax]

[quote=FtypeRmeister]Hi yes I changed a Chimera for first a v6 F type and then a v8r.
It is a thumbs up ??
Doing it again I would go straight to the v8r. Can get quite sideways in a straight line on a damp country road and fast enough to entertain on circuit.
Enjoy![

Thanks, so you didn’t find the F Type a bit ordinary after the TVR? With my sensible trousers I’d get a V6S, but in reality a V8S... or a Tamora

[Pursyluv]

Just seen your Porsche over on the other thread, looks really nice, but as you say it might be a little underwhelming after a TVR

[notax]

Pursyluv said:

Kept the Tam for 9.5 years and absolutely loved it, really underrated little car, fast enough, great sound and a damn sight easier to drive hard than the Cerbera 4.5 I had before. Let me down once, the clutch failed as I was on the way to the garage to have a new clutch fitted
I’m completely biased towards the Tam so I’m not the best person to ask, if I don’t like it’s replacement I’ll be back in one, or maybe T350T, I’ve really only sold it because the wife was frightened of it and gave it away to be honest

Gratuitous photo:-

That looks lovely and I’m reassured by your reliability experience. I had heard that the Tamora generally had fewer silly issues than the earlier cars, of course the elephant in the room is the engine and I’ve yet to find one I like with a rebuild. I don’t know whether it would be worth hoping it doesn’t go bang, or biting the bullit and having a rebuild before it’s needed and avoiding risk of catastrophic damage...

[notax]

Pursyluv said:

Just seen your Porsche over on the other thread, looks really nice, but as you say it might be a little underwhelming after a TVR

Yes, stunning car, but no V8 and it doesn’t like to drift...

[Litcoat]

I've gone from chimaera to f type, I've got the v6s, in my opinion the f type is the modern day Tvr, like the TVR it always puts a smile on my face when I drive her and they both have that special presence on the road, I'm certainly not disappointed with changing to the f type.
Gratuitous pictures

[Pursyluv]

notax said:

Pursyluv said:

Kept the Tam for 9.5 years and absolutely loved it, really underrated little car, fast enough, great sound and a damn sight easier to drive hard than the Cerbera 4.5 I had before. Let me down once, the clutch failed as I was on the way to the garage to have a new clutch fitted
I’m completely biased towards the Tam so I’m not the best person to ask, if I don’t like it’s replacement I’ll be back in one, or maybe T350T, I’ve really only sold it because the wife was frightened of it and gave it away to be honest

Gratuitous photo:-

That looks lovely and I’m reassured by your reliability experience. I had heard that the Tamora generally had fewer silly issues than the earlier cars, of course the elephant in the room is the engine and I’ve yet to find one I like with a rebuild. I don’t know whether it would be worth hoping it doesn’t go bang, or biting the bullit and having a rebuild before it’s needed and avoiding risk of catastrophic damage...

Mine was rumoured to have been rebuilt by the factory at 3k miles, but I had no proof, fortunately the guy who bought it just accepted that it might go bang one day, he also owns a Sag and messaged me a few days after buying it to say the Tam was much more forgiving to drive and he was considering using it as his daily driver

[Litcoat]

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|https://thumbsnap.com/4bWWG34a[/url]

[notax]

That is stunning Which colour is it? Did you try a V8S before choosing a V6? Apparently the V6 is a better driver’s car, but I guess the V8 will be noisier, more driftable and more ridiculous - which is what I’m after

[notax]

My colour question related to the Chimaera, I guess the F Type is Italian Racing Red - which would be my choice unless I find a dark cherry one...

[FtypeRmeister]

Hi OP,
The 2014 2WD v8r that I had was a wild thing....just as I recall my TVR. Loved it. Similar v8 growl and a balanced chassis that would safely get the tail out. The only thing that I never really bonded with was the 8 speed auto - too many gears! I prefer the v8 6 speed manual on the v8 vantage that I am running now.
The tvr to f type swap is definitely a thumbs up from me though...

[notax]

FtypeRmeister said:

Hi OP,
The 2014 2WD v8r that I had was a wild thing....just as I recall my TVR. Loved it. Similar v8 growl and a balanced chassis that would safely get the tail out. The only thing that I never really bonded with was the 8 speed auto - too many gears! I prefer the v8 6 speed manual on the v8 vantage that I am running now.
The tvr to f type swap is definitely a thumbs up from me though...

Thanks, ‘wild thing’ sounds good The auto does put me off a bit, I’d quite like to do some slaloms in it for a laugh and having no manual would be a bit of a shame. Here’s my gratuitous link to me in one of my Chimaeras having fun...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyeChgOvhrs

I’ve owned three Vantages too, a manual V8 and auto V8S and V12S. I did try a 4.7 Vantage manual a year ago, but it somehow felt a bit old and heavy. Not as much fun as a lighter car (of course the F Type isn’t exactly light, but has a shed load of power...)

[Litcoat]

I'm told the colour is Italian racing red, the v6s is definitely more useable, you can use a lot more of the power a lot more of the time, in normal drive mode she drifts quite happily, switch the silly button on and watch out, absolutely mental, just wants to go faster and faster.
The noise coming out of the exhaust is addictive to, it's not as loud as the chim but at least you can switch it on and off for longer journeys so it doesn't become monotonous.

[FtypeRmeister]

Love the video! Thanks for sharing. Think the 2WD v8 f type would thrive on that!
You can obviously use the paddles and Choose the gears but for road use with that much power/torque 4/5/6 really didn’t make much difference.
Yes, I find the v8 v a bit soft but I started riding bikes again a couple of years ago so a Yamaha R1 is keeping me entertained at the moment!